Jesus and the Quest for Meaning
Entering Theology
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Jesus and the Quest for Meaning: Entering Theology
A new approach to introducing theology
As God's self-communication to humans, Jesus is the key to the human search for meaning, argues Thomas West. He therefore introduces the practice of theology through Christology. From the question of personal meaning and self-constitution and their relationship to transcendent meaning and value, he proceeds to discuss the figure and import of Jesus and then the ethical imperative engendered through encounter with him.
Fresh and clear, West's book is an invitation to grapple with one's religious commitments, especially in light of recent insights in biblical studies and Continental, feminist, and liberation theologies.
This new text will prove an engaging and effective introduction to theological thinking for both undergraduates and Christian adults.
As God's self-communication to humans, Jesus is the key to the human search for meaning, argues Thomas West. He therefore introduces the practice of theology through Christology. From the question of personal meaning and self-constitution and their relationship to transcendent meaning and value, he proceeds to discuss the figure and import of Jesus and then the ethical imperative engendered through encounter with him.
Fresh and clear, West's book is an invitation to grapple with one's religious commitments, especially in light of recent insights in biblical studies and Continental, feminist, and liberation theologies.
This new text will prove an engaging and effective introduction to theological thinking for both undergraduates and Christian adults.
- Publisher Fortress Press
- Format Paperback
- ISBN 9780800632977
- Dimensions 6 x 9
- Pages 314
- Publication Date June 1, 2001
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter One: The Search for Meaning
Human Being as the Tendency to Meaning
Meaning and Freedom
Particular Meanings and Universal Values
Suffering and Meaning
Penultimate and Ultimate Meaning
Ultimate Meaning and Universal Values
The Ultimate Foundation of Universal Values: God
Meaning and Self-Actualization
Meaning and the Power of Feeling
Chapter Two: Meaning and the Formation of Human Identity
The Human Word
The Language of Self-Communication
Word and Human Identity
Receiving Identity from God
Chapter Three: The Identity of Jesus
Faith and the Historical Jesus
The Biological Identity of Jesus
The Psychological Identity of Jesus
The Spiritual Identity of Jesus
God's Self-Communication to Jesus in Word and Spirit
Chapter Four: The Mission of Jesus
God Commissions Jesus to go Public with the Word of Love
The Two-Directionality of Jesus' Words
Jesus Communicates the Word Verbally
Jesus Communicates the Word Nonverbally
Chapter Five: The Death of Jesus as the Final Word of Mission
Jesus' Death Completes His Saving MissionJesus' Death as His Final Word
Last Supper and Death
Jesus' Death and the Consequences of Sin
Jesus' Death as Victory over the Powers
Chapter Six: The Resurrection of Jesus
The Resurrection and History
The Resurrection as God's Final Word to Jesus
The Resurrection Gives Ultimate Meaning to Death
Resurrection Universalizes and Eternalizes Jesus' Mission
Chapter Seven: The Risen Christ Continues the Mission
The Risen Christ and the Mission of Individuals
The Church as the Body of the Risen Christ
The Church Preaches the Word
The Church Speaks the Ritualized Word
—Baptism
—Confirmation
—Eucharist
The Church Speaks Through Service to Humankind
Chapter Eight: The Human Response of Faith and Love
Informative Success: Faith
—Faith and Understanding
—Faith and Belief
—Faith and Trust
Emotive Success: Love as Feeling
Directive Success: Love as Action
Christian Faith and Non-Christians
Chapter Nine: Love into Justice: The Good Samaritan Revisited
Luke's Parable of the Good Samaritan
Love into Interpersonal Justice
Love into Social Justice
Chapter Ten: The Human Response of Hope
Self-Communication and the Promissory Function
Individual Penultimate Hope
Individual Ultimate Hope for Resurrection of the Body
Ultimate Consequences of Human Choice: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory
Penultimate History and Ultimate Hope
Cosmic Hope
Notes
Index
Chapter One: The Search for Meaning
Human Being as the Tendency to Meaning
Meaning and Freedom
Particular Meanings and Universal Values
Suffering and Meaning
Penultimate and Ultimate Meaning
Ultimate Meaning and Universal Values
The Ultimate Foundation of Universal Values: God
Meaning and Self-Actualization
Meaning and the Power of Feeling
Chapter Two: Meaning and the Formation of Human Identity
The Human Word
The Language of Self-Communication
Word and Human Identity
Receiving Identity from God
Chapter Three: The Identity of Jesus
Faith and the Historical Jesus
The Biological Identity of Jesus
The Psychological Identity of Jesus
The Spiritual Identity of Jesus
God's Self-Communication to Jesus in Word and Spirit
Chapter Four: The Mission of Jesus
God Commissions Jesus to go Public with the Word of Love
The Two-Directionality of Jesus' Words
Jesus Communicates the Word Verbally
Jesus Communicates the Word Nonverbally
Chapter Five: The Death of Jesus as the Final Word of Mission
Jesus' Death Completes His Saving MissionJesus' Death as His Final Word
Last Supper and Death
Jesus' Death and the Consequences of Sin
Jesus' Death as Victory over the Powers
Chapter Six: The Resurrection of Jesus
The Resurrection and History
The Resurrection as God's Final Word to Jesus
The Resurrection Gives Ultimate Meaning to Death
Resurrection Universalizes and Eternalizes Jesus' Mission
Chapter Seven: The Risen Christ Continues the Mission
The Risen Christ and the Mission of Individuals
The Church as the Body of the Risen Christ
The Church Preaches the Word
The Church Speaks the Ritualized Word
—Baptism
—Confirmation
—Eucharist
The Church Speaks Through Service to Humankind
Chapter Eight: The Human Response of Faith and Love
Informative Success: Faith
—Faith and Understanding
—Faith and Belief
—Faith and Trust
Emotive Success: Love as Feeling
Directive Success: Love as Action
Christian Faith and Non-Christians
Chapter Nine: Love into Justice: The Good Samaritan Revisited
Luke's Parable of the Good Samaritan
Love into Interpersonal Justice
Love into Social Justice
Chapter Ten: The Human Response of Hope
Self-Communication and the Promissory Function
Individual Penultimate Hope
Individual Ultimate Hope for Resurrection of the Body
Ultimate Consequences of Human Choice: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory
Penultimate History and Ultimate Hope
Cosmic Hope
Notes
Index